GOLF: Smith wins a first Schools cap for England

Sportsdesk

Dunstable’s former Priory Academy pupil Ryan Smith’s won his first England International Schools cap against Wales Schools in their NASUWT National Schools Championship match at Belton Park GC recently.

The 17-year-old left-hander was lying six after a morning round of 72 and was well placed at one over in the afternoon with five holes to go.

He, like others, found the closing holes tight if position off the tee was not perfect though, and dropped five shots for a closing 76 to tie on 13th place with three others, just three shots behind the fifth placed player.

It was an excellent effort nonetheless from the teenager as he adds an International School cap to his golfing CV that is now being prepared for US Scholarship attention.

Smith’s efforts to reach this event started last October when he was runner up in the Bedfordshire Schools Scratch Championship held at his home golf club, Dunstable Downs, with a gross 73.

The youngster, who plays off a 1.6 handicap, and currently attends Vandyke Upper school in Leighton Buzzard, went on to play in the NASUWT SE Schools Championship held at Eaton GC, Norwich at the beginning of June.

There he opened with a 70, to lie in second place at lunchtime and a closing 76 secured him to a third place prize on countback, and qualification for the SE Regional team.

He has been selected for England schools in the NASUWT international match against Wales Schools on August 29 at Clyne GC, Swansea.

It’s been a good few months for Smith as he was part of the Dunstable Downs side, with Ryan Craig and Paul Kenna, who won the County Team title at the Bedfordshire GC recently too.